James B & Melita a McDonough
The James B. and Melita A. McDonough Foundation is a private foundation based in Dubuque, Iowa. It supports charitable, educational, and health-related activities, with particular attention to opportunities for children and families in Dubuque and the greater an individual recipient area.
Key facts about James B & Melita a McDonough
In short: James B & Melita a McDonough gave $436K across 90 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Iowa. 31% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 48-1296843
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $436,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 90
- Average grant
- $4,844
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (26 of 85, 2025)
- Total assets
- $9,274,365
- Primary geography
- Iowa (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Eligible 501(c)(3) or 170(c) organizations in the Foundation’s seven Iowa counties apply using the online application. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Applications must be received from April 1 through May 31.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.3M
+7.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$436K
-2.3% YoY
Grant Count
90
+2.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-4.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James B & Melita a McDonough reported a distributable amount of $434K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is James B & Melita a McDonough open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 26 of 85 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 53% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to promote charitable, educational, and health-related activities and to especially provide opportunities for children and families in Dubuque and the greater an individual recipient area. Its stated service area includes Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton, Jones, Jackson, Fayette, and Buchanan counties in Iowa.
Its giving includes basic human needs, capital projects, education, religious endeavors, cultural and arts activities, and food and housing for people in need. Examples of grantees’ work include Opening Doors, whose mission is to provide emergency shelter and temporary transitional housing for women, with or without children, who lack support; Riverview Center, which provides client-centered care to people affected by sexual assault in Iowa and sexual or domestic violence in Illinois; and St. Mark Youth Enrichment, which works to support the educational and social-emotional growth of youth and families.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation awarded 90 grants totaling $436,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $2,500. Its largest listed award was $50,000 to Holy Family for the Platform for Excellence Campaign. Other notable 2025 grants included $15,000 each to the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque for student training and evidence-based activities, Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA for crisis-services staff pay, Iowa Legal Aid for legal services to women in a seven-county area, Opening Doors for its core programs and services, and Riverview Center for sexual-assault crisis intervention and prevention services. In 2024, the Foundation reported that more than 63% of its grants were $5,000 or less.
Review Cycle
Applications must be received from April 1 through May 31. Recipients are notified in July.
How to Apply
Eligible 501(c)(3) or 170(c) organizations in the Foundation’s seven Iowa counties apply using the online application. Applicants are asked to provide IRS eligibility verification, a recent fiscal-year income statement and balance sheet, and—if awarded a grant in 2026—a letter explaining how those funds were used. Recipients must account for how grant funds are spent; single-year commitments are preferred.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s stated service area is seven Iowa counties: Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton, Jones, Jackson, Fayette, and Buchanan. Its 2025 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 90 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $411K (2023) to $569K (2021). In 2025 it made 90 grants totaling $436K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Holy Family ($50K). Together the top 10 received $186K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($6,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
406 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 400 grants of 406 (99%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Holy Family Dubuque, IA | Platform for Excellence Campaign | $50,000 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Dub Dubuque, IA | Training and Evidence Based Activities for Students | $15,000 |
| Dubuque Community Ymcaywca Dubuque, IA | Crisis Services Staff Pay Funding | $15,000 |
| Iowa Leagl Aid Dubuque, IA | Underwrite costs of legal services to women in seven-county area | $15,000 |
| Opening Doors Dubuque, IA | Consolidate core programs & services to 1398 central ave | $15,000 |
| Riverview Center Dubuque, IA | Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention & Prevention Services Project | $15,000 |
| The Power of Prayer Inc Asbury, IA | Increase Community Awareness in Power of Prayer Chapel | $15,000 |
| Community Solutions of Eastern IA Dubuque, IA | Funding for Housing Helpline | $15,000 |
| Camp Corageous Monticello, IA | Remodel & Refurbish 1 of 3 Cabins | $10,000 |
| Dubuque Regional Humane Society Dubuque, IA | General Support | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,274,365 | $766,197 | $518,962 | $436,000 |
| 2024 | $8,655,654 | $699,261 | $521,476 | $446,038 |
| 2023 | $8,277,416 | $270,811 | $488,972 | $411,253 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,274,365 | $8,655,654 | $8,277,416 |
| Revenue | $766,197 | $699,261 | $270,811 |
| Expenses | $518,962 | $521,476 | $488,972 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $451,151 | $458,098 | $426,340 |
| Net Investment Income | $713,397 | $647,558 | $221,439 |
| Distributable Amount | $433,560 | $416,191 | $389,345 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ann McDonough as President, Brian J. Kane as Vice President, Glen McDonough as Treasurer, and Jim Liddle and Heather Cruse as Directors.
James B & Melita a McDonough is led by Ann McDonough, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ann McDonough
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Heather Cruse
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Jim Liddle
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Brian J. Kane
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Glen McDonough
Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Mcdonough Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 296, Dubuque, IA 52004-0296
Phone: (563) 587-0533
Website: https://mcdonoughcharitablefoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about James B & Melita a McDonough
How much does James B & Melita a McDonough give each year?
James B & Melita a McDonough gave $436K across 90 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $446K across 88 grants.
What is James B & Melita a McDonough's typical grant size?
James B & Melita a McDonough's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $4,844, across 90 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from James B & Melita a McDonough that year got $3K on average.
Where does James B & Melita a McDonough give grants?
James B & Melita a McDonough gives mostly in Iowa: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Dubuque, IA (62 grants), La Motte, IA (3 grants), Monticello, IA (2 grants) and Sherrill, IA (2 grants).
Does James B & Melita a McDonough give general operating support?
Occasionally: 4% of James B & Melita a McDonough's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 90) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are James B & Melita a McDonough's largest grantees?
James B & Melita a McDonough's largest 2025 grantees include Holy Family ($50,000), Community Foundation of Greater Dub ($26,000 across 5 grants) and Dubuque Community Ymcaywca ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($6,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is James B & Melita a McDonough?
James B & Melita a McDonough reported $9.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $451K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $434K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does James B & Melita a McDonough fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to promote charitable, educational, and health-related activities and to especially provide opportunities for children and families in Dubuque and the greater an individual recipient area. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from James B & Melita a McDonough?
Eligible 501(c)(3) or 170(c) organizations in the Foundation’s seven Iowa counties apply using the online application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is James B & Melita a McDonough's EIN?
James B & Melita a McDonough's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-1296843. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching James B & Melita a McDonough by hand.
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